Crime
94 persons arrested for violating sanitation laws in Nasarawa
By David Okpashi
Over 94 person were on Saturday arrested for violating environmental sanitation laws across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa state.
The enforcement teams from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources led by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Yakubu Kwanta made this known at a press briefing shortly after the November sanitation exercise.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Chief Environment Officer, Abubakar Mohammed gave a breakdown of the figures as 28 in Lafia, 29 in Karu, 11 in Nassarawa-Eggon, five in Awe, and 11 in Keana LGAs respectively.
The commissioner said the offenders who were arrested for transacting their private businesses while the sanitation exercise was in progress, violated section 9 (2) of the State Environmental Sanitation Law.
He explained that the offenders were prosecuted by Mobile Courts in the respective local council to serve as a deterrent to others.
Kwanta expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by the residents of the state adding that, shops and business environments were temporary closed during the period of the exercise.
“We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass, and move around during the exercise,” he added.
The commissioner who further announced the ministry collaboration with traditional rulers, Chairmen of LGAs to strengthen enforcement in subsequent exercise called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreaks of diseases.
“Residents should cooperate more with the government towards ensuring that the slate is clean in their best interest. If the environment is kept clean, it will guard against a possible outbreak of any disease, thereby ensuring improved healthy living of the people,” he added.
It would be recalled that the last Saturday of every month has been set aside as environmental sanitation day in the state.